Looking to learn more about all of the tools in the printer’s arsenal? You’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re looking for guidance on which printing method to opt for with your next campaign, or you’re curious about the possibilities, this guide is for you. In it, you’ll find overviews for various different printing methods, including:
Offset Lithography
Ideal For:
Printing on materials with a rough surface, like wood, canvas, and cloth
Uses:
Books, paper, stationery, signage and display printing
How It Works:
Also known as offset printing or litho, offset lithography is a popular method of mass-production printing that uses aluminum plates to achieve the final print.
Each plate holds an image of the content to be printed, which is then transferred (or offset) onto rollers or rubber blankets before being pressed onto the end product.
Results:
The end result will depend on the type of paper or material you’ve opted for, but as the rollers or blankets are flexible, you’ll have more options to choose from. A crisp finish can be achieved whether your printed material is a smooth paper or a rough canvas.
Offset lithography produces high-quality images and can be used for small or large-volume print jobs.
LED UV Printing
Ideal For:
High-volume print projects that require quick turnaround without compromising on quality
Uses:
Newsletters, posters, stationery, leaflets, magazines, catalogues, brochures, and prospectuses
How It Works:
LED UV printing is a method that delivers high-quality prints in short turnarounds, making it a popular choice for businesses working to tight schedules.
What sets this method apart is not the way projects get printed, but rather the way they’re dried. The drying process, known as UV curing, uses ultraviolet light to instantaneously dry the ink as it’s being printed, preventing the ink from being fully absorbed by the print material.
The LED UV method requires custom plates to be made, and the overall set-up takes a little bit more time and effort than some other printing options, making it better suited to higher volume projects.
Read our blog to learn more about how the LED UV printing process works.
Results:
The instantaneous drying process of LED UV printing reduces wait times while providing a sharp, clear finish with vivid colours and high versatility.
This printing method also uses less power than traditional print machines, making it a great choice for those who are environmentally conscious.
Flexography
Ideal For:
Print projects with continuous patterns and high-volume jobs
Uses:
Wallpaper, gift wrap, packaging and labels
How It Works:
Flexographic printing is the modern version of the letterpress and is commonly used for printing on uneven surfaces. It uses quick-drying products like semi-liquid inks and can be used for high-volume jobs.
The process involves wrapping flexible photopolymer printing plates around rotating cylinders on a web press. These inked plates have a slightly raised image of your content and are rotated at high speeds to transfer the image onto the final product.
Results:
Flexography is a great choice for long print runs requiring fast production. It can also be used to print onto various media, including plastic, cellophane, and metallic film, making it a versatile method for achieving high-quality print finishes in bulk.
Digital Printing
Ideal For:
Small print jobs — as small is a single sheet!
Uses:
Posters, signage, labels, newsletters, menus, and letters
Wondering which paper type is best for the job? Find guidance on selecting your paper stock here.
How It Works:
Digital printing is a modern method of printing that can be achieved either by inkjet or by laser.
In digital printing, files containing the desired print are shared electronically (usually via PDF), processed, and then read and reproduced by the printer, removing the need for a traditional printing plate. Usually this results in time and cost savings — unless you’re printing in high volumes.
This method unlocks on-demand print for businesses and is perfect for smaller jobs, as requests can be made for as little as a singular print.
Results:
When done well by a quality print provider, digital printing can be cost-effective while still producing high-quality results.
Display Print
Ideal For:
Large print formats
Uses:
Billboards, posters, vinyl banners, wallpaper, murals, floor graphics, laminating, and sustainable Xanita board
How It Works:
Also known as large format printing, display print is the method used when you need to print at the maximum roll width. It’s the go-to method for most formats of traditional advertising.
This printing method gives you a much bigger area to work with compared to other options like digital printing as, rather than printing onto individual sheets, it uses rolls of prints fed together to create one large sheet.
Results:
The display print method delivers high-quality finishes, vivid colours and crisp imagery at large scales.
Screen Printing
Ideal For:
Printing repeat items in bulk
Uses:
Branded clothing, novelty items, and display items
How It Works:
In screen printing, a fine material or mesh is used to transfer an image onto the end product.
The image is outlined on the mesh before it’s stretched out to create a screen between the ink and the end product. With the product pressed to one side of the screen, ink is pushed through the other side to achieve the print.
This method can be used to print graphics onto clothes and other pieces of fabric, as well as paper, wood, plastic, and glass.
Results:
Screen printing delivers a vibrant and long-lasting finish on a wide range of materials.
3D Printing
Ideal For:
Making your 2D image tangible
Uses:
Novelty items, display items, toy figurines, promotional items and marketing freebies
How It Works:
3D printing has been around for quite some time, but has recently gained attention due to the increased accessibility of the technology.
3D printing uses model data or electronic information, such as an Additive Manufacturing File (AMF), to process the required print job. Once an image of the intended model has been processed, additive compound mixtures are then fused to reproduce the image in 3D.
Over time, 3D printers have become increasingly sophisticated and items can now even be printed with interior moving parts.
Results:
3D printing takes your 2D design and turns it into something your audience can hold and use. Given that there’s no printed material until the final product is produced, 3D printing opens up a world of potential design opportunities.
Web2Print
Ideal For:
Branded merchandise and marketing materials
Uses:
A single online ordering platform for all of your branded print
How It Works:
With Web2print, you upload all of your business’ branded files into a dedicated online library. From here, you’ll be able to customise, print and reorder the branded products you want, as and when you need them.
Results:
Get branded merchandise on-demand, achieve brand consistency in every print job, and mitigate the need to meet a minimum order requirement with Web2print.
Carbon-Balanced Printing
Ideal For:
Businesses looking to reduce their environmental impact
Uses:
Marketing materials printed on paper or card, such as brochures, leaflets, flyers, and business cards
How It Works:
Carbon-Balanced Print is a scheme which allows companies to offset the unavoidable carbon emissions of their printed materials.
A Carbon-Balanced Printer uses Carbon-Balanced Paper, meaning the carbon emissions from the paper production and the printing process have been offset.
Results:
By choosing a Carbon-Balanced Printer for your next campaign, you can rest easy knowing that your carbon impact is reduced and every effort has been made to minimise harmful effects on the environment.
Learn more about how we take a green approach to printing with our latest Impact Report.
Printing Doesn’t Have to Cost the Earth
Whether you’re budget-conscious or environmentally-conscious, there’s a printing method out there to suit your needs. Want to learn more? Our team is always on hand to answer your queries and offer guidance for getting the most out of your next campaign.